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Still Raging: Largest Wildfire in California History Grows

Wildfires tearing through trees and brush, rampaging up hillsides and incinerating neighborhoods: The places and names change, but the devastation is showing signs of becoming the new normal in California. Jodi Hernandez reports.

(Published Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018)

Wildfires tearing through trees and brush, rampaging up hillsides and incinerating neighborhoods: The places and names change, but the devastation is showing signs of becoming the new normal in California.

Twin fires in Northern California being treated as one are the largest wildfire in state history and by Tuesday had scorched 455 square miles — nearly the size of the city of Los Angeles.

The Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco was still growing this week as it broke the record set eight months ago. In December, the Thomas Fire killed two people, burned 440 square miles and destroyed more than 1,000 buildings in Southern California.

The Mendocino Complex, which is 34 percent contained, has been less destructive to property than some of the other wildfires in the state because it is mostly raging in remote areas. But officials say it threatens 11,300 buildings and some new evacuations were ordered over the weekend as the flames spread.

See the Size of the Mendocino Fire

With more than 283,000 acres burned, the Mendocino Complex Fire in Northern California is now the biggest-ever in the state. But how big is it, in relation to places you recognize? Use the map below to explore the size of the fire on top of your city, state, or zip code.

Source: US Geological Survey
Credit: Peter Andringa/NBC

Cal Fire on Tuesday announced a mandatory evacuation order for Mendocino County. The evacuation zone includes areas south of the Eel River, west of the Mendocino-Lake county line, east of the 10500 block of Mid Mountain Road and north of Pine Avenue. Houses on Pine Avenue are not affected.

Hotter weather attributed to climate change is drying out vegetation, creating more intense fires that spread quickly from rural areas to city subdivisions, climate and fire experts say. But they also blame cities and towns that are expanding housing into previously undeveloped areas.

More than 14,000 firefighters are battling more than a dozen major blazes throughout California, state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Scott McLean said.

"I can remember a couple of years ago when we saw 10 to 12,000 firefighters in the states of California, Oregon and Washington and never the 14,000 we see now," he said.

Crews made progress over the weekend against one of the two blazes in the Mendocino Complex with help from water-dropping aircraft, Cal Fire operations chief Charlie Blankenheim said in a video on Facebook.

But the other one is growing after spreading into the Mendocino National Forest and then spreading south to Colusa County.

Largest Wildfire in California History Still Growing

The Mendocino Complex has become the largest California wildfire in recorded state history.

(Published Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018)

In a statement Tuesday,

The Department of Homeland Security stressed the importance of safety and security during wildfires

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is deeply concerned by the devastation wildfires have caused in significant portions of northern California. Our thoughts remain with those impacted by this tragedy, while our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety wherever possible."

In consideration of these distressing circumstances, ICE will continue to suspend routine immigration enforcement operations in the areas affected by the fires in northern California, except in the event of a serious criminal presenting a public safety threat. Likewise, immigration enforcement will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks.”

Meanwhile, a new fire erupted south of Los Angeles in Orange County on Monday and quickly spread through the chaparral-covered ridges of the Cleveland National Forest. Campgrounds and homes in Holy Jim Canyon were ordered evacuated. The fire sent up an enormous pillar of smoke and ash.

Crews also gained ground against another Northern California wildfire that has destroyed more than 1,000 homes in and around the city of Redding. It was nearly halfway contained, Cal Fire said. That wildfire about 225 miles north of San Francisco started more than two weeks ago by sparks from the steel wheel of a towed-trailer's flat tire. It killed two firefighters and four residents and displaced more than 38,000 people.

The fires in Northern California have created such a haze of smoke in the Central Valley that Sacramento County health officials advised residents to avoid outdoor activities for the entire week.

Another blaze that ignited last week in the Sierra Nevada has damaged a historic Northern California resort in the Stanislaus National Forest. The nearly century-old Dardanelle Resort has sustained massive structural damage, though the details were unclear, the Sacramento Bee newspaper reported.